When will the killing of unarmed black and brown men by law enforcement end? In less than a year Michael Brown, John Crawford, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Walter Scott, Freddie Gray, Tony Robinson and other tragic deaths have come to national attention. What can we do? How do we understand what is truly happening here? Where does the story begin? How can it end?

Please read (and share widely) this powerful reflection by our Founder and President, filmmaker, educator and speaker, Dr. Shakti Butler, penned just days after the news from Baltimore broke:

Baltimore: Where Do We Step Into the Story?

The story of Baltimore is connected to a long-standing struggle for access and equality, which is as old as this nation’s history. This is a story of resistance to injustice, brutality, economic exploitation and domination. One cannot truly grasp the meaning of Baltimore without considering it within the context of a long history of uprisings and protests folded into what is just the latest expression of outrage. We cannot really understand the response of this latest uprising without looking at the meta-narrative of oppression. As long as there are people who are routinely excluded and marginalized there will be disquiet.

Congratulations to the Winner of our Survey Contest, Elisabeth Davidson!

Your feedback is so important to us and we value everything that you have to say. Thank you to all who responded to the Racial Equity Learning (REL) Volume One survey. Thank you to Elisabeth Davidson. You are the winner of the drawing for a copy of Racial Equity Learning Volume 2. We know that Portland Community College will use it well. THANKS!

Have you checked out our recently released curriculum, Racial Equity Learning (REL) DVD Volume Two? Focusing on movement, immigration and the development of race in the United States, REL Volume Two examines law and its affect on cultural norms. This resource can be used in sequential fashion for day-long workshops or can be broken into sessions that are instructed over time to deepen work in which you are currently engaged.

Click here to learn more about both volumes and the individual modules for sale. For a limited time if you buy two or more modules you receive 20% off your total sale!

Meet our Wonderful New Communications Firm: AKILA WORKSONGS

The phrase "perfect storm" used to have a negative connotation for us until about a month ago. In April, AKILAWORKSONGS and World Trust signed a year-long agreement that will have the agency oversee the marketing and media communications. In a short period of time, the work with AKILA WORKSONGS has been a perfect storm filled with powerful synergy, break-throughs, and great accomplishments. We couldn't be happier. With many high profile clients, decades of experience and deep roots in the worlds of art, activism, racial equity work and social justice movements we are confident AKILA will help us transmit the World Trust vision effectively.

Founder and President, April R. Silver says of her work with World Trust: "Truthfully, I've not worked with such a diverse group of people where the energy is this harmonious and the productivity is so intense. Under Shakti's guidance, the World Trust family is doing transformative work and my team and I are honored to have been chosen to tell the world about it." The feeling is very mutual: we are honored to work with AKILA WORKSONGS!

Preview our New Film and Join the Restore Justice Campaign!

You’ve been touched by the power of World Trust’s films, that foster authentic dialogue—and bring deep healing to these very issues. Now, we ask for your partnership in making our next film a reality. As a work-in-progress, this film will be an in-depth exploration of the restorative justice movement and its impact on interrupting the school to prison pipeline.

Meet World Trust Workshop Facilitator Amikaeyla Gaston

Amikaeyla Gaston is a force for change. She creates environments that support people in exploring themselves with the openness of childhood. She uses creativity and strategic questioning to support people in addressing their fears, developing a place where everyone has an equal voice. When she is holding space for change—you can expect Playdough, you can expect chocolate, you can expect music and movement, you can expect fun. The more serious the environment the more levity she encourages. Amikaeyla has led corporations through cultural competency & diversity training and her work has been utilized and implemented by the Department of Health & Human Services, The American Psychological Association and US Consulate General’s Cultural Affairs office. She wants to change the world—one conversation, one training, one workshop at a time. She travels extensively, to all corners of the globe, in order to make this happen. Amikeayla is the Founder and Executive Director of the International Cultural Arts & Healing Sciences Institute (ICAHSI). As a musician, she uses her voice as a catalyst for the voices of those that are not often heard.

We have lots coming up this month such as facilitator Linda Handy leading a series of workshops using our acclaimed film Cracking the Codes to engage management and staff of Blue & Gold Fleet, facilitator Ericka Huggins at Homeward Bound in Marin, a team from World Trust including Founder Shakti Butler at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE) in Washington, DC and more!

As a friend of World Trust, you know that the need for effective diversity work is more urgent than ever before. Authentic conversations on race that promote deep understanding and racial healing are vital to creating true racial justice. We need your partnership to ensure that World Trust's powerful films and effective curriculum reach even more people.

The time for racial healing is now- and together we can build on the growing national momentum. Thank you for your support and for all that you are doing to create a more just and equitable world.

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